Two New Philippine Air Force FA-50PH Aircraft Arrived at Clark AFB

MANILA, -- The second batch of a dozen fighter planes ordered from South Korea landed in Clark before noon on Thursday, making the number of existing jets of the Philippine Air Force at four.

Piloted by two South Koreans, the FA-50s with tail numbers 003 and 004 arrived at Clark Air Base at 11:41 a.m. and 11:42 a.m.

The two fighter jets left Kaohsiung, Taiwan, around 10:10 a.m. and were met by the first two FA-50s with tail numbers 0001 and 002 over Pangasinan. They made a diamond formation over Clark Air Base, and were met with a water cannon salute when they landed.

The new FA-50s left South Korea on Nov. 29 and reached Taiwan on the same day.

The Philippine Air Force has ordered 12 planes from Korea Aerospace Industries worth P18.9 billion, the biggest military capability upgrade from the modernization program.

The first two fighter planes arrived last year. The rest of the planes will be delivered on a staggered basis until 2018.